The European Union’s Operation IRINI announced on Saturday that its team has boarded and inspected the cooperative Merchant Vessel (MV) SERRANO. This is in application of the United Nations Security Council’s Resolutions concerning the arms embargo on Libya.
In its statement published on IRINI’s official website, the European operation revealed that the MV SERRANO is a Panamanian flagged General Cargo vessel which departed from the Egyptian port of Alexandria on 17 November and went to Tobruk, in Libya.
The team boarded the vessel in international waters, approximately 42 nm north east of the port of Tobruk. They examined the documentation on board and inspected the cargo.
IRINI pointed out that nothing suspicious was found on board and that the vessel was declared free to proceed on its way.
The statement said that the procedure went smoothly, and the boarding took place in a collaborative atmosphere. All ensured that COVID-19 precautions were observed during the boarding.
Operation IRINI is part of the EU’s commitment to support the Berlin process. Operation EUNAVFOR MED IRINI’s core task is the implementation of an arms embargo through the use of aerial, satellite, and maritime assets in order to support the process to bring stability in Libya and peace to its population.